Do 0 Nicotine Vapes Help You Quit Smoking?
People often start vaping to quit smoking cigarettes; some vape e-juice formulations with nicotine to help them cut back on smoking traditional cigarettes. Some opt for non-nicotine vapes to segue between being a smoker and a former smoker. But there’s one question we hear all the time: Do 0 nicotine vapes help you quit smoking for good?
For cigarette smokers, there are benefits to non-nicotine vaping, but there are risks and potential side effects as well. In this article, we discuss how nicotine-free vapes can help you quit, explore how safe they are, and recommend some healthier alternatives that might also help you kick the habit.
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Do 0 Nicotine Vapes Actually Help You Quit Smoking?
Most smokers develop a two-fold addiction to cigarettes.
The first is the physical addiction to the nicotine itself. Nicotine is highly addictive, and the only way to satisfy nicotine cravings is to consume more.
The second is the behavioral addiction of an oral fixation. Smokers satisfy this with the hand-to-mouth habit of putting a cigarette or vape to their lips. This behavioral habit can be just as challenging to break.
While some people quit cold turkey, most smokers and vapers find it difficult to beat their physical and behavioral addictions at the same time. Attacking this pernicious coupling is how disposable vapes without nicotine can help you stop smoking for good.
It’s common for former smokers or nicotine vapers to revert to their old habits, even after they’ve quelled their nicotine addiction. Many do so for the simple fact that they still have an oral fixation. One of the most significant benefits of vaping without nicotine is that you can continue to enjoy your hand-to-mouth habit and be nicotine-free at the same time.
Zero-nicotine vapes won’t do anything to satisfy your nicotine cravings, but they can help you stop smoking by satisfying your oral fixation. Just be mindful of which brand of zero-nic vapes you choose to aid with quitting smoking. Some contain harmful ingredients that are even more dangerous than nicotine itself.
One of the best vapes to quit smoking is our ARRØ plant-powered aromatherapy diffuser.
ARRØ devices do not contain nicotine, tobacco, THC, CBD, or any other harmful or addictive substances. Instead, they deliver deliciously flavored air and a satisfying throat hit that feels like nicotine vaping without any habit-forming ingredients.
We offer 15 delicious flavors across our 5,000-puff ARRØ Max and 15,000-puff ARRØ Ultra devices.
Shop ARRØ aromatherapy diffusers here
Are Non-Nicotine Vapes Safe for You?
Are zero-nicotine vapes safe to use? Not necessarily. Even those that don’t contain addictive chemicals may contain other harmful substances.
Many people use the terms “nicotine-free vapes” and “non-harmful vapes” interchangeably, but they are two different things. The difference lies in the ingredients the manufacturer uses.
Some vape pens without nicotine include harmful ingredients like diacetyl, formaldehyde, and vitamin E acetate. These can cause lung damage, respiratory illnesses, and other serious medical issues. If you see any of these ingredients listed on the label, steer clear. These chemicals can have dangerous side effects and cause serious health consequences.
Some vapes without nicotine contain seemingly harmless natural ingredients and vitamins, like melatonin, vitamin B12, and caffeine.
While these are generally safe for most people to consume, they may not be suitable or safe for you. Even a vitamin as essential as B12 can negatively impact your health, especially if you take certain prescription medications or other supplements.
ARRØ vapes do not contain harmful chemicals like diacetyl, formaldehyde, or vitamin E acetate. Our devices are made with only vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, and natural and artificial flavors and extracts for a great taste.
Shop the ARRØ vape collection here
Because they don’t contain nicotine, zero-nic vapes are widely regarded as safer than nicotine vapes. But that doesn’t mean they’re 100% safe to use. There are pros and cons of vaping without nicotine to be aware of.
What Are the Potential Side Effects of Zero Nicotine Vapes?
With nicotine-free vaping comes potential health risks. Inhale anything other than oxygen into your lungs, and you risk suffering various side effects. Consider these possible consequences before you start vaping to quit smoking:
Lung Disease
Anytime you inhale any substance or vapor, you run the risk of developing a respiratory illness or lung disease. Zero-nicotine vape juices with formaldehyde, diacetyl, or vitamin E acetate are especially dangerous and put you at even higher risk for such side effects.
Formaldehyde is a toxic chemical that can cause respiratory distress and lead to chronic lung disease. Diacetyl can cause bronchiolitis obliterans, aka popcorn lung.
Popcorn lung is a chronic disease that damages the tiny airways in the lungs and causes shortness of breath, similar to COPD. Vapes with vitamin E acetate can cause EVALI (an E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use Associated Lung Injury), which can lead to chest pain and shortness of breath.
To minimize the risk of lung disease, avoid 0 nicotine vapes with diacetyl, formaldehyde, and vitamin E acetate. Plant-based vapes made with vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, and natural extracts are safer alternatives.
Throat and Mouth Irritation
Nicotine-free vapes can deliver great throat hits, but those hits can cause your throat to feel scratchy, irritated, or sore. No matter how mild or strong the hit, you may experience a burning feeling, persistent coughing, or persistent itchiness of your lips or tongue.
Throat and mouth irritation are amongst the most common side effects of vaping, with or without nicotine. Smoking and vaping in any form can also damage your gums and irritate the inside of your mouth.
Adverse Reactions
Many non-nicotine vapes purport to give you energy or calm you down and ease anxiety. These may include added ingredients like caffeine, vitamin B12, melatonin, or chamomile, which can negatively affect your health.
Even with natural ingredients, you may experience adverse reactions. For example, zero-nic vapes with vitamin B12 or caffeine may make you feel edgy or make it difficult to sleep. Non-nicotine vapes with melatonin or chamomile can have the opposite effect and make you sleepy or drowsy.
It’s essential to know what’s in your vape if you have an existing medical condition or take prescribed medications. Natural ingredients can have harmful interactions with prescription drugs.
There’s overwhelming scientific evidence proving that nicotine use is harmful to your health. Non-nicotine vaping is a healthier option, but the most nutritious choice is not to vape at all.
What Are Healthier Alternatives to No-Nicotine Vapes That Can Help You Quit Smoking?
If you want to enjoy a smoke-free life, nicotine-free vapes can help you reach your goal, but they’re not the only option. If you want to quit vaping or smoking altogether, there are some other alternatives to consider.
Herbal Cigarettes
For people who love to smoke cigarettes, herbal cigarettes can be a great smoking cessation aid. Herbal cigarettes look just like traditional cigarettes but don’t contain any tobacco or nicotine.
They offer a unique way to quit nicotine without actually quitting smoking. For some traditional cigarette smokers, this solution strikes the perfect balance, but technically, you’ll still be a smoker.
Herbal cigarettes typically contain all-natural ingredients such as peppermint leaves, green tea, cloves, and herbs. There are also nicotine-free cigarettes with pure hemp CBD and trace amounts of THC (the part of the cannabis plant that gets you high). If you’re looking to quit nicotine but still want to enjoy the act of smoking, herbal ciggies can be a great option.
Keep in mind that all cigarettes, even those without tobacco or nicotine, can be dangerous. According to Cancer.org, “Even herbal cigarettes with no tobacco give off tar, particulates, and carbon monoxide and are dangerous to your health.”
Clinically-proven Smoking Cessation Aids
There is extensive scientific evidence proving the validity and effectiveness of traditional smoking cessation aids. Nicotine patches, lozenges, and gum are among the most popular.
Smoking cessation aids come in various nicotine strengths, so some are best for light smokers, while others are best suited for heavy smokers.
The “patch” delivers a steady stream of nicotine into the body so you don’t feel the physical withdrawal at all. Nicotine gum and lozenges are helpful when you begin to feel nicotine withdrawal symptoms and need a quick nicotine fix.
Patches, lozenges, and nicotine gums can help wean you off your cigarette dependency, but they still contain small amounts of a highly addictive substance. While many people have success quitting smoking with these methods, they fall short in satisfying the hand-to-mouth oral fixation.
Pressurized Air Inhalers
Pressurized air inhalers can also help you kick the habit. For some people, they can be helpful in conjunction with traditional smoking cessation aids. They look and feel like vapes, but they don’t contain any vape juice at all. They simply replicate the throat hit that vaping and smoking provide but emit nothing but pressurized air.
If you’re trying to quit cigarettes, pressurized air inhalers alone won’t help ease your nicotine withdrawal symptoms. But if you’re quitting vaping, these devices can be highly effective.
Do 0 Nicotine Vapes Help You Quit?
While more scientific data is needed, many people have used healthy vapes without nicotine to help them quit smoking cigarettes. Will they satisfy cravings for nicotine? No. Can they meet the needs of the behavioral hand-to-mouth habit you’ve adopted from smoking cigarettes or vaping nicotine in the past? Yes.
Our pick for the best 0-nicotine vape to help you quit smoking is our ARRØ diffuser. Available in popular flavors like Magic Mint, Strawberry Ice, Watermelon Juice, and Peach Berry, ARRØ disposable vapes deliver flavored air powered by plant-based ingredients without tobacco or nicotine.
Whether you’ve been smoking for years or you’re looking to kick a new nicotine vaping habit, ARRØ can help you do it.